George Wheeler (wheelge01)

George L. Wheeler
born George L. Heroux

• Bats Both, Throws Right
• Height 5' 9", Weight 180 lb.

• Debut September 18, 1896
• Final Game May 30, 1899
• Born August 3, 1869 in Methuen, MA USA
• Died March 23, 1946 in Santa Ana, CA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Pitcher George L. Wheeler played four years with the Philadelphia Phillies (1896-99), with a 21-20 record. More than half his appearances were in 1897. He was known to also occasionally throw with his left hand, making him an Ambidextrous Pitcher.

Through 2019, he is one of three big leaguers born in Methuen, MA. The other two were born many decades later - Steve Bedrosian and Mike Rochford. George pitched multiple seasons for teams in Lewiston, ME and Bangor, ME, among other places, before he came to the majors. Afterwards he played for many more seasons in the minors, through 1914. Among other stops, he had parts of seven seasons with the minor league Los Angeles Angels (PCL) and parts of three with the San Francisco Seals. He was frequently used at positions other than pitcher in the minors, such as when he appeared in 198 games for the 1903 Angels, of which 12 were as a pitcher.

Wheeler was the coach at the University of Southern California in 1914 and 1923.

He is not to be confused with another player of the same name - George H. Wheeler, who came to the majors in 1910 and thus was active at the same time as this George Wheeler. By the time George H. Wheeler started his minor league career, however, George L. Wheeler was out on the west coast with the Seals and Angels, while George H. Wheeler's minor league career was with teams in the eastern half of the country.